Master the
AAMC PREview
The AAMC PREview exam is a situational judgment test assessing the personal and professional competencies in the AAMC Core Competencies. Required by ~30 MD programs, it uses 30 multiple-choice scenarios scored 1–9 and transmitted via AMCAS.
30
Scenarios
75 min
Test time
Multiple choice
Response format
1–9
Score scale
The exam
What is AAMC PREview?
An AAMC-built SJT that targets non-cognitive readiness — not the academic ground the MCAT covers.
AAMC PREview is a situational judgment test developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges — the same body behind the MCAT, AMCAS, and MSAR. Unlike the MCAT, it targets the non-cognitive attributes the AAMC considers essential: professionalism, teamwork, ethical judgment, cultural competence, and resilience.
Each of the 30 text-based scenarios is typical of pre-medical or early training — a team conflict, a difficult patient interaction, an observed ethical lapse. Rather than “what would you do?”, PREview asks you to rank the response options from most to least effective, scored against what AAMC-trained experts determined was optimal.
Piloted from 2021, PREview has been adopted by a growing number of MD programs. Scores are transmitted directly through AMCAS with the rest of your application.
Key distinction from CASPer
PREview is AAMC-administered, uses multiple-choice ranking (not typed text), and aligns explicitly with the AAMC Core Competencies. CASPer is third-party (Altus / Acuity Insights) with open-ended typed responses. Different schools require one, the other, or both.
The framework
AAMC Core Competencies
PREview is built around this framework — understanding it is the most substantive prep you can do.
Thinking and Reasoning
Science
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Source: AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students (aamc.org). The Interpersonal and Intrapersonal competencies are most directly tested by PREview. Download the official document for full descriptions.
How to prepare
AAMC PREview preparation strategy
Five steps, roughly in the order they pay off.
Read the AAMC Core Competencies document
The most important step. Download it from aamc.org and read the Interpersonal and Intrapersonal definitions — Service Orientation, Cultural Competence, Teamwork, Oral Communication, Ethical Responsibility, Reliability. Scenarios are written to probe these exact constructs.
Use official AAMC PREview practice questions
The AAMC store publishes the only practice questions written by the same body and scored against the same framework. Third-party materials may not reflect the AAMC’s response-effectiveness hierarchy — use them for familiarisation, not calibration.
Understand the rank-choice logic
PREview asks you to rank all responses from most to least effective — not “what would you do?”. Distinguish good-but-not-optimal, neutral, and harmful, and order them. Practise articulating why you rank each response as you do.
Review professional-behaviour research
Scenarios draw on real research about professionalism in medical contexts. Reading about communication in healthcare, professionalism in training (ACGME competencies), and cultural humility builds a robust evaluation framework. NEJM and Academic Medicine publish accessible pieces.
Complete the test tutorial
The AAMC provides a tutorial at the start of the exam — review it beforehand on the PREview site. Knowing the rank-ordering interface means you spend test-day energy on the scenarios, not the mechanics.
What it tests
Common AAMC PREview scenario themes
Scenarios map directly onto the Interpersonal and Intrapersonal competencies.
Clinical professionalism
Appropriate conduct in clinical settings — confidentiality, navigating hierarchy, handling errors, and supporting colleagues.
Teamwork & collaboration
Effective participation in teams — contributing constructively, addressing dysfunction, and supporting struggling members.
Ethics & integrity
Informed consent, truth-telling, resource allocation, and obligations when observing misconduct.
Cultural humility
Respectful care across cultural, linguistic, and religious differences — including assumptions, stereotyping, and accommodation.
Resilience & self-care
Recognising and responding appropriately to stress, burnout, and impairment — in yourself or colleagues.
Communication & feedback
Delivering and receiving feedback, navigating difficult conversations, and supporting patients and families under stress.
Compare
AAMC PREview vs CASPer
Two SJTs that schools treat very differently — know which (or both) your list requires.
| Feature | AAMC PREview | CASPer |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | AAMC (same body as AMCAS) | Altus / Acuity Insights |
| Format | Multiple-choice rank ordering | Open-ended typed text |
| Sections / scenarios | 30 scenarios | 14 sections |
| Time | 75 min | ~90–110 min |
| Scoring | 1–9 scaled score | Quartile (Q1–Q4) |
| Framework | AAMC Core Competencies (explicit) | Altus professional readiness criteria |
| Score transmission | Via AMCAS | Direct to schools (separate from AMCAS) |
| Required by | ~30 MD programs | 30+ MD, most DO programs |
| Typing speed | Not relevant | 50+ WPM recommended |
Administrator
- AAMC PREview
- AAMC (same body as AMCAS)
- CASPer
- Altus / Acuity Insights
Format
- AAMC PREview
- Multiple-choice rank ordering
- CASPer
- Open-ended typed text
Sections / scenarios
- AAMC PREview
- 30 scenarios
- CASPer
- 14 sections
Time
- AAMC PREview
- 75 min
- CASPer
- ~90–110 min
Scoring
- AAMC PREview
- 1–9 scaled score
- CASPer
- Quartile (Q1–Q4)
Framework
- AAMC PREview
- AAMC Core Competencies (explicit)
- CASPer
- Altus professional readiness criteria
Score transmission
- AAMC PREview
- Via AMCAS
- CASPer
- Direct to schools (separate from AMCAS)
Required by
- AAMC PREview
- ~30 MD programs
- CASPer
- 30+ MD, most DO programs
Typing speed
- AAMC PREview
- Not relevant
- CASPer
- 50+ WPM recommended
See the full CASPer guide.
Where it's required
US medical schools requiring AAMC PREview
Representative for the 2025–2026 cycle. Participation changes annually — verify on the AAMC PREview participating-schools page and each school's admissions page.
Source: AAMC PREview participating-schools page (aamc.org). List is representative — confirm current requirements with each school before registering.
Pitfalls
Common AAMC PREview mistakes
The avoidable errors that pull a PREview score down.
Overthinking individual responses
Scenarios have a defensible correct hierarchy. Applicants who over-analyse and doubt their instincts often do worse. If you have studied the AAMC competencies, your initial ranking is often closer to the key than a second-guessed revision.
Ignoring the AAMC Core Competencies
PREview is explicitly built on the Core Competencies framework. Preparing with generic “ethics” knowledge means optimising for a different standard than the exam uses. Read the official document.
Confusing “what I would do” with “what is most effective”
PREview asks you to evaluate effectiveness, not personal preference. Some responses you would choose may not rank highest; some you would not choose may rank above others. Evaluate on professional best practice.
Using only third-party prep materials
Third-party materials vary widely in accuracy relative to AAMC’s scoring. Official AAMC practice questions are the only materials guaranteed to reflect the real response hierarchy — use third-party for volume, not calibration.
Leaving too little time for prep
Because PREview requires a specific conceptual framework, cramming the night before is ineffective. Meaningful prep needs reading, reflection, and ranking practice over at least a week — schedule with adequate lead time.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
The PREview details US applicants ask about most.
Mock interviews built in your school's real format.
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- Matched to your school’s format — MMI, panel or traditional
- Hundreds of practice questions across US MD, DO & dental interviews
- Real scoring rubrics with examiner guidance — annotated model answers in the free preview
Prepare for AAMC PREview with expert guidance
Sessions covering the AAMC Core Competencies framework, rank-ordering logic, and timed scenario practice.
Keep reading
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